Well,
here we are
with Most
Wanted
Component
listing at the
beginning of
our third year
of
publication.
It hasnít
been an easy
road but it
has been an
exciting one
and, most of
the time, fun.
Our writers
here have
proven
themselves
repeatedly to
possess the
competence and
dedication
that has made The
Stereo Times
an Internet
success. For
this, I am
forever
grateful. I
must also
thank the many
manufacturers
that have
loaned us
equipment.
Without them,
none of this
would have
been possible.
Without their
collective
creative
genius, none
of this would
have been
worth the
effort.

My
list of Most
Wanted
Components
details the
very best to
have graced my
listening room
to date. Many
components
have passed
through this
space, not all
of them to my
taste. There
will be
others, of
this Iím
certain. Right
now, however,
I believe that
what Iíve
achieved after
long hours of
tweaking has
taken the
system to that
place we all
aspire to.
Synergy is the
key. I am
happy to
report that
all of these
components
performed
flawlessly in
many different
configurations.
Happy reading.

[Publisherís
note: Bel
Canto, Ortho
Spectrum, and
Zanden Audio
were not in
attendance at
HE2001, nor
anyone from
their
respective
companies,
therefore no
photos were
taken.]

Publisherís
Choice.

Talon
Khorus
Loudspeaker:$14,000(Reviewed
10/4/00
and 2/5/01)
as musical a
transducer as
Iíve heard
at any price.
The Khoruses
ability to
present a
seamless
musical
portrait is
unmatched, as
is its bass
tautness and
speed. Read my
and Stuís
review.

Sawada
Audio
Tutankhman
Loudspeaker
$85,000
At a whopping
$85,000
dollars,
Sawada Audioís
all-Lowther Tutankhman
loudspeakers
from Japan
are, I hate to
admit,
possibly the
best Iíve
heard from the
all-important
midrange up
Ė an
openness and
purity that
makes the
Khoruses and
everything
else sound
relatively
constipated.
The Tutís
ability to
immerse one in
the music is
unmatched; its
tonal
subtlety,
unparalleled.
Bass
reproduction
is all right
but not on par
with the Talonís,
which make
this a very
tough decision
at $85K.
However, if
youíre
willing to
overlook the
less than
stellar low
end, strapped
to the Zanden
300B
amplifier, the
Tut can
produce an oh
my! sound.

Musse
Audio
Reference 1
Loudspeaker.
This
floorstander,
built in
Singapore and
equipped with
an outboard
crossover,
allows this
listener to
kick back,
relax and
enjoy.
Incredibly
open and
inviting.
Tells a story
with each disc
without adding
any signature
of its own.
High marks to
its designerís
having nailed
each recordingís
space. A gem.

Publisherís
Choice.

The
$4,900 Preamplifier
Tact 2.2 Room
corrector/Preamplifier
is still the
best kept
secret in
two-channel
audio. The
Tact 2.2 has
been a wake-up
call for me
and all whoíve
appreciated
its
capabilities.
A literal
digital Ginsu
knife, it cuts
out unwanted
room
resonances
through
sophisticated
filters/algorithms,
with 24/96
handling
capabilities.

Publisherís
Choice.

The
Bel Canto 2002
Evo amplifier
$2,395(Reviewed
10/23/00)
as a mono pair
represents
possibly the
best sounding
and affordable
amplifier on
the planet. It
seems to morph
sonically into
that extra
something,
leaving
costlier
devices in its
wake.

Publisher's
Choice 2001!Tube
Amplifier
The Zanden
Audio Model
7000. Priced
at $15,000 its
not cheap but
boy oh boy
does it sound
delightful.
The best I've
heard in tube
amplification.
This 13 watt
Single Ended
stereo
amplifier uses
the Western
Electric 300B
tube and its
creator,
Kazutoshi
Yamada, is
considered a
legend in
Japan. The
Model 7000's
the most
musical
sounding on
the
Tutankhman's,
though the new
Talon Khorus
X, without the
very high
sensitivity,
adores it as
well.
Distributor is
Jay Bertrand.
Email prbertrand@mediaone.net.

The
Sony SCD-1
$3,500 (Reviewed
11/9/99)is a
staggering
performer in
SACD playback.
Iíve not
heard all the
other
machines, but
with the Sony
and good
common sense,
Iíve no
desire to. It
does
everything I
want. The
software is an
entirely
different
story, and it
ainít good.
I pray that,
as when CD was
first
released,
demand will
create a
better and
broader
selection of
titles. No
John Coltrane
on SACD? Tsk,
tsk.

Publisherís
Choice.

Perpetual
Technology
P3A/P1A with
the Modwright
Configuration.
Total price
$2,656 (Reviewed
4/2/01).
An incredible
device in its
own right, the
Modwright-ed
Perpetual
Technology
P3A/P1A combo
achieves even
greater
heights,
thanks to the
good offices
of Dan Wright.
The
improvement
are not
slight. They
take these
modestly
priced combo
kings to a
level
unavailable in
this price
range. A
better and
smarter choice
then the
present SACD.
Imagine, you
buy this and
all your CDís
benefit. Not
as analogue
sounding as
SACD,
particularly
the Sony
SCD-1, but so
sonically
close in every
other area, I
sometimes canít
tell which is
playing. Itís
simply that
good sounding.
A no brainer.

Tweaks

Publisherís
Choice.

The
Ortho Spectrum
AR2000 $1,250 (Reviewed
9/19/00),
the little
wonder that
boggles the
mind! See
reviews.

I
have no other
choice, having
lived with the
Sistrum
SP-1 Platforms
and SP-6
Equipment Rack(Reviewed
3/28/01)
What the
SP-1does for
the Talon
Khorus is
exceptional;
the SP-6
likewise under
my
electronics.
Together, what
they
accomplish is
even more
remarkable.
See review for
prices.

Wasatch
Cable Works
reference
Speaker Cable (Reviewed
1/11/01)
A
well-balanced
and
transparent
design as good
as any Iíve
reviewed, yet
differs from
Acoustic Zen
mostly in size
perspective
and depth of
stage. The
Wasatch is a
middle seat at
Carnegie Hall;
Acoustic Zen,
more like a
evening at the
UP & Over
Jazz Club in
Brooklynís
Park Slope:
slick, easy
and intimate
with
razor-like
resolution,
but without
the edge. See
review for
prices.

Analysis
Plus Silver
Oval (Reviewed
5/8/00)is still
the cable to
beat for the
price. See
review for
prices.

NBS
Monitor 1
Cables.
Crazy
expensive.
Whatís
crazier is
that itís
almost
justified by
an incredibly
delicate
touch,
especially in
the upper
registers,
while
providing
oodles of bass
slam.

Ortho
Spectrum Bel
Canto
Interconnects
$700 per meter
No, this
ainít no
typo. Thatís
right, from
the same folks
(Infra Noise
Labs), who
brought us the
AR-2000
Analogue
Reconstructor.
This new,
shoe-string-soft
interconnect
sets a new
benchmark in
terms of
transparency
and detail.
Stay tuned for
review.